Q.23 Discuss some important issues relating to
municipal solid waste management in India.
(AKTU. - 2009 - 10)
Ans. Municipal Solid Waste Management In
India: -
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the daily per capita
generation of municipal solid waste in India ranges from 100 g in small towns
to 500 g in large towns. (The real figures are likely to be higher.) The
recyclable content is said to be between 13 and 20 per cent. The amount of
solid waste is growing faster than the population, at least in the cities.
A dangerous practice is disposing of biomedical waste
(from hospitals and clinics) along with municipal waste in dumpsites. The
biomedical waste could turn the entire yard infectious. Further, biomedical
waste also contains sharp objects like scalpels, needles, broken ampoules,
etc., which could injure or infect rag pickers and municipal workers.
The Directorate General of Health Services estimated
as far back as 1993 that the total infectious biomedical waste generated in
India was 54,000 tons. With the explosive growth in the number of private
hospitals in recent years, this amount is likely to have increased
tremendously.
Some municipalities in India, like Alandur near
Chennai, are selling their organic waste to private companies, which compost
the waste into manure. While the Chennai Municipal Corporation is paying a
private firm to remove its garbage, Alandur is getting paid for its garbage.
There is also a plan in Chennai to convert waste into energy using suitable
technology.
Q.24 Discuss how population, poverty and
pollution are inter-related to one another. (AKTU. - 2009 - 10, 12 - 13)
Ans. Population, poverty and pollution are linked through complex
interactions. Without doubt, the health of Earth’s environment is closely
related to both demography and consumption patterns. But generalizations about
the negative effects of population growth on the environment have long caused
misunderstandings. Wealthy developed nations with stable population levels are
now the driving force behind environmental degradation. Developed nations
release most of the harmful emissions affecting the environment and generate
the most waste. With 20 percent of the population, developed nations account for
86 percent of private consumption. In contrast, the poorest 20 percent of
global population accounts for only 1.3 percent of private consumption. A child
born in the developed world will have an ecological impact equal to that of
more than 30 children born in developing countries. But poverty can also have
serious environmental consequences. Without the technology, knowledge and
rights needed to achieve sustainable development, poor people may severely
damage the environment in their quest for food, fuel and water. Three billion
people live on less than $2 per day. More than one billion people lack access
to clean water, and almost two billion do not have basic sanitation. Two
billion people do not have access to modern energy services. Basic health is elusive
as well: 800 million people are chronically malnourished and two billion people
lack food security (access to enough safe and nutritious food to maintain a
healthy life). Food production will need to double in coming decades in order
to keep pace with population growth and human requirements. Too often,
discussions of sustainable development focus disproportionately on demographic
issues, implying that a stable population size is a requirement for sustainable
development rather than a result of it.
Q.25 What do you mean by the term disaster
management? (AKTU. - 2012 - 13)
Ans. Disaster
Management: -
Certain natural phenomena produce enviornmental disequilibrium or
disaster causing large scale destruction of human life and property. These
disasters are accidential, and mostly human do not play a significant role in
these. How ever, at times, human activities accelerate the process. Disaster
management is an important issue that needs serious consideration. Some of the
disasters which cause environmental degradation are floods, earthquake,
cyclones, lanslides, drought, famines, etc. The magnitude and frequency of
these processes depend on factors such as climate, geology, vegetation and
human activities.
Disaster can be classified in two catagories: (i)
natural disasters and (ii) anthropogenic disaster.
Natural Disaster: -
· Air-related
disasters - Hurricanes, cyclones, stroms etc.
· Water related disasters - Flood, draught etc.
· Earth related disasters - Earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes,
etc.
Anthropoganic Disasters:
-
· Industrial accients
· War, riots, acts of terrorism etc.
· Toxic spills
· Accidents
Some of disaster management
are given as follows -
Earthquakes: -
The term
earthquake is used to describe a seismic event, either cause naturally or as a
consequence of human activities,which result in the generation of seismic
waves. It is caused when large amount of energy are suddenly released in the
earth crust. It is impossible to predict the occurance of an earthquake.
Earthquakes cause large-scale destruction of human life and property. The point
at which the earthquake originates is called the focus or hypocentre, and the
point directly above the hypocentre at the ground level is called the
epicentre. The areas around the epicentre suffer maximum damage during an
earthquake.
Management: -
Earthquake
is a natural phenomenon and is beyond human control. It is possible to forecast
and predict the occurance of earthquake.Following measures can be used for
disaster management:
· Earthquake-prone areas should be recognized, and appropriately
designed earthquake resistant buildings, such as houses, factories, dams,
bridges, should be constructed in these areas using materials that would help
in minimizing damage during an earthquake. Strategic placement of vibration
absorbers should be ensured.
· Appropriate relief measures, by individuals and governmental and
non-governmental organizations, should be provided to the affected areas as
soon as possible.
· Awareness should be spread amongst people educating them
regarding things to do in case of an emergency.
Landslide: -
Landslide
are natural phenomenon during which large amounts of landmass slide downwards
from hilly areas, mainly owing to gravity, destroying everything lying in the
path. The Himalayas and the Western Ghats are the two regions in India that are
the most vulnerable to landslides. The Himalayan mountain belt comprises to
tectonically unstable, young geological formations that experience mild to
severe seismic activity. Although the Westerns Ghats and Nilgiris are
geologically stable; they have uplifted plateau margins that are influenced by
neotectonic activity. The slides in the Himalyan region are bigger and more
massive than the ones experienced by the Western Ghats,and in most cases, the
overburden along with the underlying lithology is displaced during sliding
particularly due to seimic factors.
Management: -
The
following measures can be effectively used for disaster management of
landslides: -
· The susceptibility of slope to landslide may be assessed by using
remote sensing techniques.
· Construction activities should be done only after properly
evaluating the geological and geographic conditions.
· Regulating the rate of flow of water also helps to control
landslides. In many cases, water seepage initiates landslides.
· Relief
measures through economic help, supporting resettlement and rehabitation of
affected people at individual, community, and organizational levels should be
undetaken.
